One night Haji
Mohammad was saying his paper in his dark room. It was midnight. The room was
quite silent. Moshin was in deep meditation of Allah. At that time a thief
broke into his room. He caught hold of the thief.
The thief got
nervous and began to tremble with fear. He thought that Moshin would beat
him to death. So his hands began to tremble for imprisonment. He fell at the
feet of Moshin and begged him for mercy with tears in his eyes. He begged
Moshin again and again to sit him free.
Moshin did not beat the
thief. “Don’t you know that that stealing is a great sin?”
“Sir, I know it.” the
thief. Said weeping “But I can’t but steal. My children have been going
on without food for days together. I could not give them any food. I tried my
best to get work or earn money in honest way but I got no work. I couldn’t see
my children die of starvation before my eyes. Thus, I took the course. Please
let me go this time.”
At his entreaty Moshin
was moved to pity and said, “I‘ll set you free and I’ll give you money too but
on one condition.”
“What‘s the condition?”
then asked Mohsin very quickly. “Please tell me it. I’ll do whatever you ask me
to do. “
“Better die of
starvation than steal,” said Moshin to the thief. “It is an evil way of life.
You must give it up. You must promise me that you will never steal in future
but live an honest life. Then I’ll set you free and give money to start a shop.
If you work honestly, you can earn money to buy food for you and the members of
your family.”
The thief was struck
with wonder and said, “Oh noble sir, I’ve no words to express my gratitude, may
Allah bless you.”
Taking the money the
thief went home and started a shop. He became an honest business man. From that
day he gives up stealing.